Air bubbles in foam could have contributed to Columbia accident
Posted: Thu, Mar 27, 2003, 1:56 PM ET (1856 GMT)
Shuttle investigators said this week that air bubbles in insulating foam on the shuttle’s external tank may have made it easier for the foam to fall off and strike the shuttle during launch. Investigators said they discovered air bubbles in foam on an external tank at the Michoud, Louisiana facility where the tanks are built. The bubbles could make it easier for the foam to come off during flight; it could also provide a place for ice to form within the foam itself, increasing the density and mass of any chunks that fell off the tank. Investigators plan to test the foam impact theory by firing pieces of foam at pieces of the thermal protection systems taken from the shuttles Enterprise and Discovery. If the foam is at fault, it could take a considerable amount of time to affect changes to the foam itself: the Dallas Morning News reported this week that NASA officials said it normally takes "four to five years" to make changes in the foam insulation, although that process could be accelerated somewhat.
Shuttle investigators said this week that air bubbles in insulating foam on the shuttle’s external tank may have made it easier for the foam to fall off and strike the shuttle during launch. Investigators said they discovered air bubbles in foam on an external tank at the Michoud, Louisiana facility where the tanks are built. The bubbles could make it easier for the foam to come off during flight; it could also provide a place for ice to form within the foam itself, increasing the density and mass of any chunks that fell off the tank. Investigators plan to test the foam impact theory by firing pieces of foam at pieces of the thermal protection systems taken from the shuttles Enterprise and Discovery. If the foam is at fault, it could take a considerable amount of time to affect changes to the foam itself: the Dallas Morning News reported this week that NASA officials said it normally takes "four to five years" to make changes in the foam insulation, although that process could be accelerated somewhat.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, September 13
SpaceX, Northrop Grumman to launch supplies to ISS
Spectrum News — 5:52 am ET (0952 GMT) Cornell-led space tech startup acquired by Pasteur Labs
Cornell Univ. — 5:51 am ET (0951 GMT) How China Is Transforming Space Power
The Diplomat — 5:46 am ET (0946 GMT) Two billionaires have very different — and equally wild — visions of a future in space. Is either possible?
CNN — 5:43 am ET (0943 GMT) Rare photos show 'deeply personal' moments in space
BBC — 5:36 am ET (0936 GMT) |
